Verne Tipton

IN MEMORIUM
CLARENCE VERNE TIPTON
October 17, 1927 – May 26, 2017
Lipan High School – Class of 1944

Clarence Verne Tipton, 89, passed away Friday, May 26, 2017. Service: 10 a.m. Tuesday at Lipan Church of Christ. Interment: Bishop Cemetery. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at Wiley Chapel in Lipan. Memorials: Foster’s Home for Children in Stephenville.

Verne was born on October 17, 1927 southwest of Lipan in Erath County to Clarence Elbert Tipton and Anna Lucille Holder Tipton. He was descended from Tipton, Holder and Self families of Lipan. Verne attended Lipan School from first grade through graduation. He was active in FFA and was salutatorian of the graduating class of 1944.

When a new girl transferred from the Bethel School to the Lipan School in 5th grade, Verne took notice. A few years later he began dating the charming and lovely Beauton Ford and he knew he wanted to spend his life with her. With no money to buy an engagement ring to propose, he took her hand and kissed around her ring finger, creating a ring of kisses and asked her to marry him. They were married on his 18th birthday on October 17, 1945. This was the beginning of a beautiful marriage that lasted 71 years until Beauton went to heaven in December 2016 to await him.

Verne began farming in 1946 and he and Beauton ventured into the egg business which became Chicken City Egg Farm with 75,000 laying hens when they were in full production. He was named Outstanding Young Farmer of Earth County in 1960. Verne was a member of the Lipan Chieftain and Squaw Club and served on the Lipan ISD School Board including time as president of the Board. He was a devout member of the Lipan Church of Christ where he served as an Elder. He also served on the Evergreen and Bishop Cemetery Committees.

Verne and Beauton enjoyed many seasons on Lake Granbury entertaining their family and friends, creating many fun family memories. They always enjoyed camping and eventually began traveling in their RV visiting all fifty states and six Canadian provinces.

He was preceded in death by his wife, his parents and his brother, Charles.

Survivors: Daughters, Jane and R.W. York, Judy Walker and Mike McCleskey, Joyce Tipton and Lucy Moyer; grandchildren, Rhonda and Barry Shipp, Stacy Vickers, Randy and Leigh York, Verne and Christine Walker, Jimmy and Trisha Walker, Misty and Chris Walter, Jeremy Tipton Folstad; great-grandchildren, Klayton and Brianna York, Clinton Fields, Haley Fields, Dylan Vickers, Jace Walker, Maci Walker, Thomas Leveridge, Katelyn and Coltan Connally, Bethany Walker, Cage Walker, Caylea Walker, Taylor Steward, Lucas Walter and Eli Walter; and one great-great-grandchild, Rowan Connally.